Tennis racket



July 26,1932. I ALLEN 1,869,038

TENNI S RACKET Filed Sept 50. 1929 11v VENTORI lllfllll ll BY W ,4 g- ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED sT rss PATENT orrlcr.

SAMUEL C. ALLEN, .OF DAYTON; OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

DAYTON RACQUET COMPANY, 1110., OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TENNIS aAoKia'r Application filed September so, 1929. Serial 1%. 396,091. H

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tennis rackets.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a removable floating bridge or throat piece as a resilient anchorage in tennis rackets for the main or long strings which pass through their central area. bridge piece acts as a shock absorber in relieving the handle of the vibrations and harshness that are otherwise communicated to it by the impact of the stringing with the ball.

By making the floating bridge piece removable, the rubber cover on the pivot pin may be readily removed for renewal. A further advantage is in the direction of economy of manufacture, since the bridge piece can be made separately for easy insertion in the racket frame.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front, elevational view of a rectangularly strung, oval tennis racket containing my removable floating bridge piece. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through the same, on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken through the racket on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the insertable channel pieces. Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the removable bridge piece is formed. Figure 6 is a plan view of the bridge piece and pivot pin ready for insertion in the racket frame. Figure 7 is an end view of the removable bridge piece. And Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the segments employed in the upper part of the removable bridge piece to receive the lower portions of the long strings.

While my invention may be embodied in a tennis racket frame made of metal, wood or other material, I have illustrated in the drawing a tubular steel frame 1 having legs 2, 2 to which a wood handle 3 is attached.

Secured to the top of the frame 1 for passage through its central area, are two long strings 4, 4 which may be made of steel, gut or other suitable material. For the purpose of resiliently securing the lower portions of the long strings 4, 4 to the frame, I provide M a removableiloating bridge or throat piece 5 constructed as follows. Such a Referring to Figure 5, the numeral 6 designates a blank which is preferably a steel stamping having the shape of a double Y.

Formed on the bottom and, top edges of this stamping are oppositely disposed ears 7, 7 which face each other when the blank is bent upon itself toform the Yshaped bridge piece shown in Figure 6. I

' During the bending operation the blank 5 is formed with a loop portion 8 at its lower end to receive a sleeve 9 preferably constructed of rubber. Above its loop portion 8 the outwardly flaring parts of the bridge piece 1,

are connected by a rivet 10 or in any other suitable manner. Riveted between the adj acent ears 7, 7 are metal segments 11. (See Figures 6, 7 and 8.) Around these segments the central long strings 4, 4 are adapted to o be passed as shown in Figure 1. i

For the purpose of removablysecuring the bridge piece just described to the throat portion of the racket frame 1 the latter is constructed as follows to receive it. Between the upper portions of the legs 2, 2 there is Welded a triangular metal piece 12. Immediately above thelatter the'inner sides of the tubular frame 1 are recessedto hook shape at the points 13, 13 as shown in Figure 1.

lar-frame a channel member 14 having V shaped sides which point inwardly. In the outer end of the fiat top 15 ofeach channel member 14 there is formed a-semi-circular recess 16. (See-Figures 2 and 4.) The wall of each side of the'tubular frame is cut away to expose the recessed portion of the channel :member 14 inserted in it. M

The recesses 16,16 in the outer ends of of the bridge piece .5. When so insertedyin 7 Referring to Figures 3 and 4, there is fitted 8b in each hollow hook shaped part of the tubuthis loop portion, the bridge piece may be fitted in the throat part of the frame 1 by slipping the ends of the pivot pin 17 in the exposed recesses 16, 16 of the channel mem bers 14, 14 that are secured within the inner sides of the tubular frame at the points 13, 13. The rubber covered pin 17 thus secured to the tubular frame 1 co-operates with the bridge piece 5 in providing a removable resilient anchorage for the lower portions of the central strings 4, 4 to assist in relieving the handle of the vibrations and harshness which are otherwise communicated to it by the impact of the ball with the stringing. The construction of the floating bridge piece 5 is also such that it blends with the throat portion of the racket and-the triangular metal piece welded within it togive a neat and attractive appearance to the whole. I

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A racket of the type described, comprisanchor piece removably'secured to the frame adjacent the throat portion, a resilient covering for said anchor-piece, and a bridge piece float-ingly secured at its'lower end-around the covered anchor piece.

- 2. A racket of the type described, comprising a frame formed adjacent its throat portion with two oppositely disposed anchoring shoulders, a pin bearing against said shoulders, and a bridge piece floatingly secured to said pin. I 3. A racket of the type described, comprising a frame formed'adjacent its throat portion with two oppositely disposed anchoring shoulders, a pin bearing against said shoulders, a rubber sleeve fitted on said pin, and a bridge piece floatingly secured to the covered 4. A racket of thetype described, comprising a tubular frame formed adjacent its throat portion with two oppositely disposed hook shaped recesses, a pin adapted to fit said recesses, and a bridge piece floatingly secured to said pin. V

5. A racket of the type described, comprising a tubular frame formed adjacent its throat portion with two oppositelydisposed hook-shaped recesses, channel members fitted into said recesses, the top portions of said channel members formed with recesses at their outer ends, a pin adapted at its ends to fit said recesses, and a bridge piecefloatingly secured to said pin.

6. A removable bridge piece for a tennis racket, comprising a stamping in the form of a double Y bent upon itself, string receiving means secured between the free upper end portions of said stamping, a loop portion formed at the lower end of said bent-over stamping, and a pivot pin fitted in said loop portion.

7. A racket of thetype described, comprisa frame having a throat'portion, a horiing a frame having a throat portion, an

zontal resilient anchor piece secured to said frame adjacent the throat portion, a bridge piece, and a loop on the lower end of the latter to surround the anchor piece for the purpose specified.

8. A tennis racket of the type described, comprising a frame having a throat portion, an anchor piece secured to the frame adjacent said throat portion, a resilient covering for said anchor piece, and a bridge piece formed of a blank bent around said covered anchor piece at its lower end and with its free edges secured together at its upper end, the latter being formed with string receiving portions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of September, 1929.

SAMUEL C. ALLEN. 

